by Peter Ngila Download pdf ~ epub ~ mobi
When everybody is looking up and the sun’s lips are about to
connect with the moon’s in a kiss, and when the clouds are all
smiling, Buda slaps me hard on the cheeks. The piece of glass I’m
holding slides onto the ground and shatters into uncountable pieces.
I shake my head to clear the pain from my neck.
“You are not a scientist,” Buda says.
“I just wanted to
witness the sky union,” I say.
“Leo,” Sisi
barks from the kitchen. “Come quick or you won’t eat today.
I storm into the
kitchen and find her blowing into the fire. Her cheeks form into cute
side-dimples. Sisi is beautiful. Sometimes I wonder why she had to be
my sister.
kitchen and find her blowing into the fire. Her cheeks form into cute
side-dimples. Sisi is beautiful. Sometimes I wonder why she had to be
my sister.
Temptations
overpower me and my hands say it’s exciting to fondle her
well-exposed buttocks as she blows into the fire. The sweet swaa
swaa of roasting meat assaults my nose. It comes a few homesteads
away from here, from the governor’s palace – I hear Tommy his dog
is celebrating its sixth birthday – and it makes me salivate.
overpower me and my hands say it’s exciting to fondle her
well-exposed buttocks as she blows into the fire. The sweet swaa
swaa of roasting meat assaults my nose. It comes a few homesteads
away from here, from the governor’s palace – I hear Tommy his dog
is celebrating its sixth birthday – and it makes me salivate.
Sisi just gazes at
me like her eyes have just become a swallowing mouth. I don’t
really know why she hates me.
me like her eyes have just become a swallowing mouth. I don’t
really know why she hates me.
“Sisi, you are my
sister,” I say, looking her straight in the eyes. “Even though
I’m darker than you and Kim.” She shrugs and says nothing.
Sisi serves a
steaming bowl of long cassavas. We all eat and after that, I boil
some water and wash the dishes and place them in the drier, outside
the kitchen.
steaming bowl of long cassavas. We all eat and after that, I boil
some water and wash the dishes and place them in the drier, outside
the kitchen.
~~
Before I take the
cows down the fields to graze, Sisi comes in. She is somehow walking
like those thin girls I saw on the huge TV in town the other day;
legs crossed, buttocks going this way that way with each step. I
cheer up considerably despite her bad mood.
cows down the fields to graze, Sisi comes in. She is somehow walking
like those thin girls I saw on the huge TV in town the other day;
legs crossed, buttocks going this way that way with each step. I
cheer up considerably despite her bad mood.
“Sisi, let me wipe
that for you,” I offer.
“Wipe what, fake
brother?”
I’m not ready to
ask why and how fake I am.
ask why and how fake I am.
“Your purse, it’s
coated with dust.”
She says that it’s
my dick which needs cleaning, after bedding those dirty whores during
the rugby championships at the stadium. That I should visit The Post,
if not the police, before I kill the governor’s brilliant county
with American diseases.
my dick which needs cleaning, after bedding those dirty whores during
the rugby championships at the stadium. That I should visit The Post,
if not the police, before I kill the governor’s brilliant county
with American diseases.
~~
The sun is hitting
the world with heat ray missiles. My head feels like breaking, my
The-Place-To-Be-Brown-Hat is no match for the heat. I wonder where
the thousands of trees promised by the county went.
the world with heat ray missiles. My head feels like breaking, my
The-Place-To-Be-Brown-Hat is no match for the heat. I wonder where
the thousands of trees promised by the county went.
As I dig, I feel a
sharp vibration on my thigh. I open the zip of my ‘outside’ black
jeans, and from another dirty one, I fish out my small phone, to find
Kim’s text message.
sharp vibration on my thigh. I open the zip of my ‘outside’ black
jeans, and from another dirty one, I fish out my small phone, to find
Kim’s text message.
Brathe, Queens
won’t defeat us this time. We are pitted against them in the
finals. The governor says – win my cup win two million bob and a
free tour to The Park
won’t defeat us this time. We are pitted against them in the
finals. The governor says – win my cup win two million bob and a
free tour to The Park
I read it thrice.
I type into my
phone, hands trembling.
phone, hands trembling.
You can wrestle
that strongman Injera; the huge gyms you guys practice with have made
you very strong.
that strongman Injera; the huge gyms you guys practice with have made
you very strong.
I press ‘send.’
Leo Bro, it
seems the governor won’t stop at nothing to develop our county.
I’ve seen a great link on Whatsapp and copy-pasted it on
your FB; the governor says you are the boss.
seems the governor won’t stop at nothing to develop our county.
I’ve seen a great link on Whatsapp and copy-pasted it on
your FB; the governor says you are the boss.
I don’t reply.
Time is racing pretty fast and I have to hit today’s target. When
the mitumba sellers failed to comply with county regulations, the
governor made good of his threats and sent giant tractors to do the
job.
Time is racing pretty fast and I have to hit today’s target. When
the mitumba sellers failed to comply with county regulations, the
governor made good of his threats and sent giant tractors to do the
job.
“Demolish your
vibandas fast, before I spit on the ground and the saliva dries up;
world-class hotels will be put up in the plot for investment,” the
governor ordered.
~~
The smartly dressed
operator half-closes his nose. I enter the black-and-white carpeted
cyber café. I don’t care about the way other customers look at my
tattered shirt and shorts and laugh. I just sit on a wooden chair
between two brown-cheeks-made-up girls wearing ‘GoTV Entertaining
Africa’ T-shirts. I open Facebook and smile to myself.
operator half-closes his nose. I enter the black-and-white carpeted
cyber café. I don’t care about the way other customers look at my
tattered shirt and shorts and laugh. I just sit on a wooden chair
between two brown-cheeks-made-up girls wearing ‘GoTV Entertaining
Africa’ T-shirts. I open Facebook and smile to myself.
Our county should
never have health-related problems; I’ve commissioned the
construction of two hundred toilets, a link says.
never have health-related problems; I’ve commissioned the
construction of two hundred toilets, a link says.
I laugh more on
realizing the governor appointed me as the contractor.
realizing the governor appointed me as the contractor.
I won’t dig any
more today, won’t sweat anymore. I’m the boss, county boss.
more today, won’t sweat anymore. I’m the boss, county boss.
~~
Sisi, my sister who
still thinks I’m a fake bro, is an expensive girl – great tights,
a fast-thinking mind, brown face, manicured everything. Extra
magnificent than the rainbow.
still thinks I’m a fake bro, is an expensive girl – great tights,
a fast-thinking mind, brown face, manicured everything. Extra
magnificent than the rainbow.
I see her.
Pink folder held
between arms, phone fixed between the head and the shoulder, busy
talking cheerfully while standing beside the Machakos University
College gate. I approach her, her fingers are bound into a fist and I
bump mine on it in greeting, awkwardly.
between arms, phone fixed between the head and the shoulder, busy
talking cheerfully while standing beside the Machakos University
College gate. I approach her, her fingers are bound into a fist and I
bump mine on it in greeting, awkwardly.
The likes of Kiss
100 FM and MTV BASE have spoiled Sisi. Is this why she says I’m not
original?
100 FM and MTV BASE have spoiled Sisi. Is this why she says I’m not
original?
I lower my sack
containing a jembe and a panga and a slasher and spade. I smile a
fake one and it is surprising that Sisi smiles back. Smiles at a
not-original bro!
containing a jembe and a panga and a slasher and spade. I smile a
fake one and it is surprising that Sisi smiles back. Smiles at a
not-original bro!
“I’m tired. Our
good governor has opened Machakos Peoples’ Park where we can go
kill our stress. You need a rest from work.”
I reluctantly agree.
The three-wheeled
Tuk-Tuk wobbles dangerously on the wrong lane, missing oncoming
Tuk-Tuks by a whisker. We huddle like lovers in the back seat. The
driver is busy turning Kuber stuffed under his lower lip, busy
nodding to a Ken Wa Maria tune lauding the governor for generously
donating Tuk- Tuks to the whole town.
Tuk-Tuk wobbles dangerously on the wrong lane, missing oncoming
Tuk-Tuks by a whisker. We huddle like lovers in the back seat. The
driver is busy turning Kuber stuffed under his lower lip, busy
nodding to a Ken Wa Maria tune lauding the governor for generously
donating Tuk- Tuks to the whole town.
~~
Though I have dug
toilets all around the county, I have never been here. Machakos
Peoples’ Park is like a big city.
toilets all around the county, I have never been here. Machakos
Peoples’ Park is like a big city.
“I love all these
countless headlights,” I say, pointing at the park’s hedge.
Sisi is quiet, her
face assuming a secretive air.
face assuming a secretive air.
MPP is surrounded by
huge walls with many gates, each manned by KDF soldiers, guns at the
ready, unsmiling and willing to kill any terrorist. Huge dogs sniff
around for bad blood.
huge walls with many gates, each manned by KDF soldiers, guns at the
ready, unsmiling and willing to kill any terrorist. Huge dogs sniff
around for bad blood.
“Life is good,
bro,” a voice behind me says.
I turn like an oiled
bolt and my busy lips disengage from Sisi’s, a thing we have been
doing for a minute. My fist is more than willing to remind somebody I
hate being disrupted.
bolt and my busy lips disengage from Sisi’s, a thing we have been
doing for a minute. My fist is more than willing to remind somebody I
hate being disrupted.
“Niajeni,
bro na sis,” Kim greets and comes in front of us.
He is excited and we
are surprised to see him. Sisi starts behaving like I have just
become a real bro. She disengages completely from my arms.
are surprised to see him. Sisi starts behaving like I have just
become a real bro. She disengages completely from my arms.
“Governor Kesho
has thrown today’s party for us. We won the championships. He has
also awarded hot girls to us.” Kim is obviously happy.
He is wearing a
Kenya Airways T-shirt assuring you of safe air travel all over the
world, with a huge egg-shaped ball drawn on it. He immediately
introduces a plump lady he is with as Achu. Sisi suddenly becomes my
fake sister once more when she catches me gazing intently at Achu.
Her bum is carrying really good stuff behind there; rich history.
Kenya Airways T-shirt assuring you of safe air travel all over the
world, with a huge egg-shaped ball drawn on it. He immediately
introduces a plump lady he is with as Achu. Sisi suddenly becomes my
fake sister once more when she catches me gazing intently at Achu.
Her bum is carrying really good stuff behind there; rich history.
FRIIII SMOKIN
ZON24/7 (VVFSZ 24/7) shouts into your face, into your eyes. All over
The Park’s erect structures; on those walls and on the trees, on
those huge stones, the words appear like red dots, brought to life by
neon lights. The Park’s walls are lined with sexing pictures; naked
women and men making love, women and women making love, men and men
making love, men making love to goats, dogs climbing on dogs.
ZON24/7 (VVFSZ 24/7) shouts into your face, into your eyes. All over
The Park’s erect structures; on those walls and on the trees, on
those huge stones, the words appear like red dots, brought to life by
neon lights. The Park’s walls are lined with sexing pictures; naked
women and men making love, women and women making love, men and men
making love, men making love to goats, dogs climbing on dogs.
The smell of shisha
hungs in the air. The many shisha heads are being filled up once they
die down, live charcoal pieces reloaded, and for the first time ever,
I find myself in a real fight; fighting over the many hoses with
other drunkards.
hungs in the air. The many shisha heads are being filled up once they
die down, live charcoal pieces reloaded, and for the first time ever,
I find myself in a real fight; fighting over the many hoses with
other drunkards.
The music is now
playing slow-slow. Sisi and I are in a boat, rowing-rowing leisurely
along The Park’s small stream.
playing slow-slow. Sisi and I are in a boat, rowing-rowing leisurely
along The Park’s small stream.
“Surayakomzuri
mama… Mzuri mama…” This is Sauti Sol.
The governor hired
the four-man band to perform today. As it assures women of their sexy
faces, Kim and his lover are busy kissing, touching, zips opened,
doing ka-standih. Most of the guys here are also thrusting
hard into people’s daughters. Development momentarily swallowed,
parents will later tear at each other.
the four-man band to perform today. As it assures women of their sexy
faces, Kim and his lover are busy kissing, touching, zips opened,
doing ka-standih. Most of the guys here are also thrusting
hard into people’s daughters. Development momentarily swallowed,
parents will later tear at each other.
“Why haven’t you
taught your he-goat of a son about condoms?” Parent A will say.
Parent B will say:
“My friend, my son carries his own legs. Ask him.”
“My friend, my son carries his own legs. Ask him.”
“Ask the dick,
Buda Kanono,” the son will say. “You hump your wife daily, you
hump other people’s wives harder than I did your daughter. You were
not born through spiritual intervention, old bro.”
The peace-loving
chief will intervene; will say that disputes are ignited by enemies
to disrupt peace. The governor will promise to take care of the girl
and the boy and the families involved; the county won’t stomach
exposure to foes.
chief will intervene; will say that disputes are ignited by enemies
to disrupt peace. The governor will promise to take care of the girl
and the boy and the families involved; the county won’t stomach
exposure to foes.
~~
Just
before you reach the Teachers College near the river, Buda finds his
daughter sitting in a married way with a young man. Leo Ngilin, his
other son. The son from Loliondo. Me.
before you reach the Teachers College near the river, Buda finds his
daughter sitting in a married way with a young man. Leo Ngilin, his
other son. The son from Loliondo. Me.
“What are you
doing with my daughter?”
His
face contorts as if ready to dispense a slap or punch.
face contorts as if ready to dispense a slap or punch.
“I
was trying to teach Leo how to use a smart phone,” Sisi explains,
licking at her lips.
was trying to teach Leo how to use a smart phone,” Sisi explains,
licking at her lips.
She
is wise my girl, her voice trembling. That easily and you have caught
a thief!
is wise my girl, her voice trembling. That easily and you have caught
a thief!
Unsettling
my unwilling finger from her waist, Sisi fishes a Nokia Lumia from
her tight blue jeans. She tells her father the governor will never
know.
my unwilling finger from her waist, Sisi fishes a Nokia Lumia from
her tight blue jeans. She tells her father the governor will never
know.
He
tells Sisi that were it not for the governor, she wouldn’t be
chasing the world up and down the phone’s screen so quickly; we
knew when Kesho escorted the President to the court overseas.
tells Sisi that were it not for the governor, she wouldn’t be
chasing the world up and down the phone’s screen so quickly; we
knew when Kesho escorted the President to the court overseas.
~~
Sisi
is not my biological sister. Nice. I found a VCD hidden among Buda
Kim’s drawer and on it was written ‘The Revelation’. How
it got into Buda’s house I don’t know. It explained my
relationship with Sisi, why she would call me ‘fake brother’
initially, why my father hated me. Buda no longer forbids our
relationship with Sisi. He seems to know I know the truth.
is not my biological sister. Nice. I found a VCD hidden among Buda
Kim’s drawer and on it was written ‘The Revelation’. How
it got into Buda’s house I don’t know. It explained my
relationship with Sisi, why she would call me ‘fake brother’
initially, why my father hated me. Buda no longer forbids our
relationship with Sisi. He seems to know I know the truth.
“Kim, what’s
up?” I ask.
I greet him as he is
preparing to get on his ‘gear’ bike. A small ‘Western Union’
bag is strapped to the carrier, a bigger ‘WelkamKenia’
bag is on his back. He
says that he is rushing to the stadium to see the governor; Kesho is
bringing them a new uniform.
preparing to get on his ‘gear’ bike. A small ‘Western Union’
bag is strapped to the carrier, a bigger ‘WelkamKenia’
bag is on his back. He
says that he is rushing to the stadium to see the governor; Kesho is
bringing them a new uniform.
“The president is
coming to visit and give to us a tanker to support our activities,”
Kim says. ‘Tanker’ excites me and I want to know more.
“So, what kind of
tanker do you guys want?”
He says a milk
tanker will do; youths can easily burn themselves with petro. I must
have been saved from a milk tanker on the day I was supposed to die.
Milk doesn’t kill.
tanker will do; youths can easily burn themselves with petro. I must
have been saved from a milk tanker on the day I was supposed to die.
Milk doesn’t kill.
Is it that people
love death more that life? A petroleum tanker gets an accident and
people rush for ‘gold’; then a fool somewhere lights up a
cigarette and many die, many get hospitalized, a few others rich. I
wonder.
love death more that life? A petroleum tanker gets an accident and
people rush for ‘gold’; then a fool somewhere lights up a
cigarette and many die, many get hospitalized, a few others rich. I
wonder.
I merely catch a
glimpse of Kim when I recover from my reverie. He is fast
disappearing, his black partially-buttoned shirt flapping away in the
wind like a kite, a slightly bruised lower back exposed.
glimpse of Kim when I recover from my reverie. He is fast
disappearing, his black partially-buttoned shirt flapping away in the
wind like a kite, a slightly bruised lower back exposed.
~~
I’m the boss. The
long-sleeved shirt I had put on yesterday has been taken to the dry
cleaner, and today I’m sporting a new white Harambee Stars jersey.
My black and white ‘Let’s Do It’ cap is keeping off the sun’s
rays.
long-sleeved shirt I had put on yesterday has been taken to the dry
cleaner, and today I’m sporting a new white Harambee Stars jersey.
My black and white ‘Let’s Do It’ cap is keeping off the sun’s
rays.
Supervising part of
the project around the poshomill, a neighbour’s greedy goat is
speeding to the shamba. I pick a stone and throw it at the goat, and
there is a gong and I think I have hit its horns. The governor
immediately drives into the scene, and I’m rather taken aback.
the project around the poshomill, a neighbour’s greedy goat is
speeding to the shamba. I pick a stone and throw it at the goat, and
there is a gong and I think I have hit its horns. The governor
immediately drives into the scene, and I’m rather taken aback.
“Leo, the stone
you’ve just thrown hit my gate. It has reminded me how vital you
are to this county,” he says.
When he greets me,
his hand is surprisingly big and soft. Then Sisi alights from the
governor’s Benz, looking cuter than beauty itself. That
ground-sweeping floral dress with small beautiful Kenyan-American
flags, her long man-made hair, her red lips, leave me breathless.
his hand is surprisingly big and soft. Then Sisi alights from the
governor’s Benz, looking cuter than beauty itself. That
ground-sweeping floral dress with small beautiful Kenyan-American
flags, her long man-made hair, her red lips, leave me breathless.
“Leo how are you
today?” she says.
“I’m fine,
darling,” I smile.
I hold out my arms
to hug her, but the governor’s shoe digs into my bum, and I yelp.
to hug her, but the governor’s shoe digs into my bum, and I yelp.
“Young man, I’ve
given you enough authority in this county, mentioned your name in
every big meeting I attend, said you are a great leader; and you are
flirting with my girlfriend?”
His guards spring
into action, ready to knock me down.
into action, ready to knock me down.
Sisi, my girl. The
governor’s woman?
governor’s woman?
“Eeh, I’m sorry,
Sir Governor. She is…I mean we are bro and s….,” I stammer and
close my legs together to prevent liquid soaking through my trousers.
Before I can say
‘sister,’ the governor is upon me, holding me by the scruff of
the neck such that I’m barely standing on toes.
‘sister,’ the governor is upon me, holding me by the scruff of
the neck such that I’m barely standing on toes.
“Sisi is my sixth
wife. She is already pregnant,” he barks, foam comes out of his
mouth as though he is about to die.
He massages Sisi’s
belly and I feel like kicking him back. I won’t vote for him in the
next elections. They leave abruptly.
belly and I feel like kicking him back. I won’t vote for him in the
next elections. They leave abruptly.
I feel bad Sisi has
been having an affair with the old governor, my biological father.
Could she not have just taken his money? She should have told me. But
maybe she knew I would have been furious. If Sisi is really pregnant,
I’m not sure whether the child is mine. My father and I could not
have been sharing one woman.
been having an affair with the old governor, my biological father.
Could she not have just taken his money? She should have told me. But
maybe she knew I would have been furious. If Sisi is really pregnant,
I’m not sure whether the child is mine. My father and I could not
have been sharing one woman.
No!
I hold my hands over
my face. I’m not sure I really want to cry.
my face. I’m not sure I really want to cry.
~~
Download pdf ~ epub ~ mobi
~~
Peter
Ngila is a Kenyan writer, book-addicted insomniac and literature
faithful. A typical Kinai; Kinai is a mad little-known Machakos
County resident who reads always come rain or sun-while walking,
while relaxing. Peter believes that stories must be treasured and
promoted for they make the world. He has been mentored in the
Writivism Creative Writing Program, and attended Writivism workshops
in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam. His fiction has appeared on Muwado,
Amka Space Forum (the blog) and Daily News, a Tanzanian paper. Others
works have featured in The Daily Nation and The Star; Kenyan
newspapers. Ngila is currently working with The Star as a journalist.
He can’t reveal he is revisiting and compiling few of his short
stories for submission to publishers. He aspires to write more
frequently as he grows up.
Ngila is a Kenyan writer, book-addicted insomniac and literature
faithful. A typical Kinai; Kinai is a mad little-known Machakos
County resident who reads always come rain or sun-while walking,
while relaxing. Peter believes that stories must be treasured and
promoted for they make the world. He has been mentored in the
Writivism Creative Writing Program, and attended Writivism workshops
in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam. His fiction has appeared on Muwado,
Amka Space Forum (the blog) and Daily News, a Tanzanian paper. Others
works have featured in The Daily Nation and The Star; Kenyan
newspapers. Ngila is currently working with The Star as a journalist.
He can’t reveal he is revisiting and compiling few of his short
stories for submission to publishers. He aspires to write more
frequently as he grows up.
~~
Also in This Issue
Short Stories
Poetry
